Safety Deposit Box Raids

The true story of Operation Rize being the first reveals something far more chilling an un-noticed change in the law that strikes at the very heart of the British justice system. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act of 2002 (known as POCA), valuables and cash above £750.00 are presumed by the police to be the proceeds of crime unless you can prove otherwise, a total reversal of the presumption of innocence.

Aside from those three dozen or so people found guilty the vast majority of the 3,500-plus box owners have turned out to be innocent. Yet their money was confiscated.

Our clients are from classic immigrant backgrounds – The owners having to justify why they kept their personal belongings in safety deposit boxes and how they came by them in the first place. Most of the safe deposit customers have had to deal with, at best, endless bureaucracy: finding receipts for inherited jewellery and justifying cash.

One family had to get their diamonds analysed to prove that they had been cut before 1939 in Berlin to prove their story that they’d been smuggled out of Germany.

Appleton Richardson & Lewis Nedas have led the way forward in proving that their clients do own their own property.

Former Superintendent Mark Ponting when asked “We assumed in Britain you are innocent until proved guilty” replied ‘Well, you’re not.’ And here we go again with news that over the last few days, authorities have raided safety deposit boxes at Selfridges & Co.

If you are affected by this please contact us for immediate assistance Appleton Richardson & Co with your best interests in mind.